Armwood OT Kevin McCoy loves UCF visit, still has Vandy trip Jan. 27

Video: Armwood's Kevin McCoy now leaning Vandy over UCF after state title win

Armwood OL Kevin McCoy said recently he was likely headed to UCF. That changed on Saturday, as McCoy said he is favoring Vanderbilt over UCF with official visits to both schools planned in January.

Armwood OL Kevin McCoy said recently he was likely headed to UCF. That changed on Saturday, as McCoy said he is favoring Vanderbilt over UCF with official visits to both schools planned in January.

By Chris Hays | Orlando Sentinel

Seffner Armwood left tackle Kevin McCoy said after the Hawks had just won the Florida Class 6A state title on Dec. 17, that he was leaning toward taking his services to Vanderbilt over UCF.

McCoy took his official visit to UCF this past weekend. That state final conversation at the Citrus Bowl is no longer relevant.

"I had a blast. It was fun. It was great. I really, really enjoyed myself," McCoy said Sunday, when reached back home in Seffner. "It has definitely made my choice a little harder. I remember saying I think I am going to Vanderbilt at the state finals, but now I don't know. After this weekend it's just going to be really hard. UCF has an unbelievable program."

What McCoy (6-6, 280) liked so much about the program on his official visit and third overall trip to the Orlando campus, was the feeling of there being a tight-knit group among players and coaches.

"This trip was really for my parents since I've already been to a few games, and they loved it," McCoy said. "I felt like this family-sense kind of thing ... a real closeness with the teammates. That’s probably my main thing with a school is to be in a great enviroment and you can feel the unity and you can see it a family-type football program and I really like that."

McCoy also has a desire to work in the forensic sciences field, and UCF, home of the U.S. National Center for Forensic Science, could easily accommodate that career path.

"They specialize in the field I want to work in and that's forensics. I met the professor over there," McCoy said, "and she talked to me about classes I would take personally in the future with my major.

"It made my choice a lot harder and that’s what it was supposed to do."

Now he will compare the UCF visit to his upcoming Vanderbilt visit, which will be the weekend of Jan. 27. He said he will likely announce his decision on National Signing Day (Feb. 1), but ...

"If I feel it to the point where I have to commit, I will commit. ... so if I know it for sure, I will commit the day I feel that."

McCoy had a terrific senior season during which he blossomed as a tackle on arguably the best offensive line in the state. There were more highly touted players on the Armwood line coming into the season, but it was McCoy gaining accolades along with guard Cody Waldrop after the season. Both players gained a spot on the AP 6A First Team All-State team, and were also first-team selections on the Tampa Bay Times All-Sun Coast team.

"I am very proud of what I've accomplished and I owe all of it to Armwood. I couldn't do any of that without them," McCoy said. "We've been together two or three years and so it was a great season to be able to go 15-0, which was our goal, because we were such a a close team and we know each other so well.

"It was a little emotional because it was our last season together. Now we'll be going to school and playing against each other."

As much as he has accomplished however, McCoy remains as humble as he was during his early years.

"I'm still shocked that I started on the varsity team," he said. "Now I have a chance to go visit schools that want me. That stuff is a blessing and not everyone gets those things. I know where I came from and I am so proud. It's just a blessing."